Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation or colon cleansing, involves flushing water into and out of the colon through tubes. While proponents claim it removes toxins and treats various medical conditions, there is no scientific evidence that supports these claims. In fact, colon hydrotherapy can be dangerous and even fatal, as it risks perforating the colon and disrupting the colon's natural bacteria. The FDA has only approved related equipment for specific medical procedures under doctor supervision, not for colon hydrotherapy.

1. COLONIC HYDROTHERAPY
Olivia J.Warner
The University ofTexas at SanAntonio
Professor Kaur |WRC 1013-001
13 October 2011

2. History
 Ancient Egyptians believed that
decomposing fecal matter entered the
blood stream from the intestines to cause
pus and fevers.
 Ancient Greeks practiced colon cleansing as
a method of balancing the “four humors” of
the human body.
Fig. 1. Great Pyramid. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica
Online. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/95217/The-
Great-Pyramid-of-Khufu-flanked-by-those-of-his>.
Fig. 2. McCalip, Brandon. The entrance to Asclepion where the
fountain, waiting room, and admittance rooms were. 17 July 2009.
GEOlocation.ws. Creative Commons, 16 July 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.
• In the late 1800s, many people believed
that the human body is not capable of
eliminating all of its toxins and fecal
matter, causing a toxic build up.
• Scientific investigations in the early 1900s
discredited the theories supporting colon
cleansing (Ernst 196).

3. Thesis
Today, colon hydrotherapy is touted as a
remedy for medical conditions such as
alcoholism, allergies, mental problems, liver
problems, arthritis and high blood pressure,
but there are no legitimate scientific studies
that have offered any evidence to support
these claims and evidence suggests that
colon cleansing could be harmful, and even
fatal, to patients who undergo colonic
hydrotherapy

4. Basics of Colonic Hydrotherapy
 Colonic hydrotherapy is a
form of colon cleansing,
also referred to as colonic
irrigation.
 Usually an enclosed system
is used where a second tube
allows the water and fecal
matter to drain out of the
colon in order to avoid
disagreeable smells
(McMillin 13).
 Water is repeatedly pumped into the colon and drained, with a
total of up to twenty gallons of water being used for one colonic
hydrotherapy session (“Colonics and Cleansing” 52).
Fig. 3. Twenty gallons of water. N.d. Aquaria Central.
AquariaCentral.com, 12 Jan. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.

5. Theory of “Autointoxication”
 The primary justification for colonic
hydrotherapy is the theory of
“autointoxication,” an ancient belief that
toxins build up in the body and need to be
flushed out regularly in order to avoid
illness or disease (“’Autointoxication’ Is Not
a Problem”).
 In 1919, the theory of autointoxication was
discredited by the American Medical
Association and the practice of colonic
hydrotherapy became ill reputed (Mishori,
Otubu and Jones 455).

6. Physiology of the Digestive
System
 The act of chewing and the
stomach breaks down food
before it is passed to the small
intestine in liquid form for
digestion and nutrient
absorption.
 The remaining waste matter
then travels into the colon (large
intestine) where water is
absorbed.
 As the waste material becomes
more toxic it also becomes drier
and more compacted, which
inhibits the colon from
absorbing the toxins.
Fig. 4. Digestive system organs. N.d. Medline Plus. U.S.
National Library of Medicine, 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 12 Oct.
2011.

7. Does Colonic Hydrotherapy Aid
the Digestive System?
 Advocates for colonic
hydrotherapy believe that
flushing out the colon
reduces the risk of
absorbing the toxins in
fecal matter.
 Adding water to the colon
breaks up compacted feces
and enables bacteria and
toxins to spread, and can
aid the toxins in filtering
through the wall of the
colon (Seow-Choen 687).
Fig. 5. Colon hydrotherapy. N.d. A
Balanced Body. Cathryn Parnell, 26 Jan
2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.

8. The Federal Drug Administration
 “Colonic irrigation equipment is
approved by the Federal Drug
Administration (FDA) for specific
medical procedures under the
supervision of medical doctors”
(qtd. in McMillin 13).
 The FDA approved the use of
colonic irrigation equipment for use
prior to a colonoscopy or similar
procedure, but not for colonic
hydrotherapy.
 Alternative medical practitioners
that do not hold legitimate medical
credentials perform colonic
hydrotherapy treatments (Preidt).
Fig. 6. FDA logo. N.d. Top News Singapore. N.p., 4 June
2010. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.

9. What is a Colonic Therapist?
 A “colonic therapist” or “colonic
hygienist,” is not recognized as a
medical professional by the
American Medical Association nor
the National Institutes of Health.
 Some colonic hydrotherapy
practitioners are members of the
International Association for Colon
Hydrotherapy (I-ACT) or the National
Board for Colon Hydrotherapy
(NBCH), but they are not licensed to
practice medicine (Mishori, Otubu,
and Jones 456). Fig. 8. I-ACT logo. N.d. Healthy
Colon and Body Alternatives. Megan
Hays, 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.
Fig. 7. NBCH logo. N.d. Arizona
Colon Hydrotherapy and Detox Spa.
Merchant Circle, n.d. Web. 12 Oct.
2011.

10. Colonic Therapy Education
 People are being scammed
out of a significant amount
of money, believing that
they are going to have a
legitimate medical career in
colonic hydrotherapy.
 Colonic therapy schools
license and certify students
as “colonic therapists” or
“colonic hygienists,” titles
that are not regulated or
recognized by the medical
community.
Fig. 9. Crawford, Pam. I-ACT certificate. N.d. Sunrise Colon
Hydrotherapy. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.

11. Coffee Colonic Hydrotherapy
 The use of coffee during colonic
hydrotherapy is promoted as a way to
enhance the removal of toxins from the
body by increasing vasodilation in the
liver, but the only proven effects are
adverse reactions (Ernst 197).
 Flushing the intestines with coffee can
cause gastrointestinal and
cardiorespiratory symptoms due to
caffeine overdose.
 After receiving coffee colonic
hydrotherapy, patients are at a greater
risk of caffeine withdrawal following
their treatment, which can cause anxiety
and depression (Seow-Choen 687).
Fig. 10. Coffee bag. N.d. I-Quad ATV Rentals,
Nosara Costa Rica. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2011.

12. Complication: Bowel Perforation
Colonic hydrotherapy
patients have been
injured by the
procedure itself, due to
bowel perforations that
can cause the life
threatening condition of
sepsis and often
requires emergency
surgery (“Colonics and
Cleansing” 53).Fig. 11. Abdominal Contamination Following Bowel
Perforation. N.d. Pilgrim Medical Illustration. N.p., n.d.
Web. 12 Oct. 2011.

13. Risk of Altering Human Flora
 Colonic hydrotherapy can
flush out bacteria and
natural chemicals that the
intestines need in order to
function properly (Hopkins
84).
 Without the body’s natural
bacteria, other bacteria
have the opportunity to
proliferate and cause severe
bacterial infections.
 Many “colonic therapists”
promote the fact that
colonic hydrotherapy rids
the body of mucus.
 Intestinal mucus protects
the intestines by acting as a
barrier to keep harmful
things, such as bacteria,
from reaching the intestinal
wall and as a lubricant,
allowing fecal matter to
pass through the intestines
without causing damage
and discomfort.

14. Colonic Diverticulosis
Patients
 Colonic diverticulosis is a condition
that occurs when weakened parts of
the colon wall protrude from the
colon and “colonic therapists”
frequently advocate treating with
colonic hydrotherapy due to the
importance of colonic diverticulosis
patients regularly emptying their
bowels (Seow-Choen 687).
 Water pressure in the colon due to
colonic hydrotherapy can cause
these weak areas of the colon to
rupture (Seow-Choen 687).
Fig. 12. Colonic diverticulosis. N.d. Cure Bytes.
N.p., 12 June 2011. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.

15. Conclusion
 Proponents of colonic hydrotherapy mention ancient historical
precedent but fail to produce any modern clinical or scientific
evidence that supports their claims.
 Current scientific research shows that colonic hydrotherapy does
not live up to its promises and can cause more harm than good.
 Colonic hydrotherapy practitioners cite the FDA’s approval of
colonic irrigation equipment but fail to mention that the
equipment is not approved for colonic hydrotherapy.
 Patients suffering from severe medical conditions may forgo
standard medical treatments in favor of colonic hydrotherapy,
which could be detrimental to their health or even fatal.
 Those who want to try colonic hydrotherapy should be educated
of the risks before they undergo treatment and should also be
aware that their therapists are not qualified medical
professionals.

16. Works Cited
“’Autointoxication’ Is Not a Problem.” MedicalUpdate 18.3 (1994): 4. AcademicSearchComplete.Web. 4
Oct. 2011.
“Colonics and Cleansing Fasts.” Digestive Disorders (2006): 52-53. Consumer Health Complete.Web. 5
Oct. 2011.
<http://libweb.utsa.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cmh&
AN=21369451&site=chc-live>.
Ernst, E. “Colonic Irrigation and theTheory of Autointoxication:ATriumph of Ignorance over Science.”
Journal ofClinicalGastroenterology 24.4 (1997): 196-198. PubMed.Web. 5 Oct. 2011.
Hopkins,Tracy E. “The Detox Paradox.” Essence 34.10 (2004): 77-84. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 4
Oct. 2011.
McMillin, David. “Colonic Controversy.” LILIPOH 10.39 (2005): 13-15. Alt HealthWatch.Web. 4Oct.
2011.
Mishori, Ranit,Aye Otubu, andAminah Alleyne Jones. “The Dangers of Colon Cleansing.” Journal of
Family Practice 60.8 (2011): 454-457. Psychology and Behavioral SciencesCollection.Web. 5Oct.
2011.
Preidt, Robert. “Colon Cleansing Has No Health Benefit, May Harm: Report.” HealthDay Consumer
News Service (2011): n. pag. Consumer Health Complete.Web. 4Oct. 2011.
<http://libweb.utsa.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cmh&
AN=1C2L1603774180&site=chc-live>.
Seow-Choen, F. “The Physiology of Colonic Hydrotherapy.” Colorectal Disease 11.7 (2009): 686-688.
Health ReferenceCenter - Academic.Web. 4 Oct. 2011.